C Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 50+ commonly asked C interview questions and answers which will definitely help you out to crack one of the toughest interviews.

1. What is the difference between sprintf() and printf() method?The sprint() method works similar to the printf() method except for one small reason. printf() method writes the Output onto the Console screen whereas sprintf() method writes the output to an Array of Characters.

2. When is it required to use an External Data type for a variable?External variables are also called as Global variables. External should be used if you need a single variable to be accessed by multiple functions.

3. What is the range of values for an integer in C?16-bit compiler: -32768 to 3276732-bit compiler: – 2147483648 to 2147483647

4. What is Call By Reference passing method?In call by reference method, parameters are passed to other methods using their addresses. Eg.: function1(&a,&b). Here, we are passing the address location number of a and b to the function1. This strategy manipulates the Actual Arguments.

5. Enlist the Advantages of Macros over Variables.The advantages of using Macros over variables are as follows:A Compiler can generate faster and compact code for constants that for variables.There is always a risk that a variable may inadvertently get manipulated in the program.

6. What is the difference between || and |?|| is a Logical Operator and it is pronounced as OR Operator, whereas | is a Bitwise OR Operator.

7. What is a continue keyword used for?The Continue keyword allows us to transfer the program control back to the very first Line of the current Loop thereby bypassing the next statements after the Keyword. A Continue is usually associated with IF Block.

8. How can you make scanf() method accept Multi-Word Strings?Scanf() function accepts a single string by default. However, a scanf() method can accept Multi-Word Strings by using the following method:scanf(“%[^\n]s”,str);This way a scanf() method takes in input until an Enter Key is Hit.

9. What is the difference between ‘A’ and “A”?‘A’ is a Character Constant whereas “A” is a String Constant.

10. Does Linux Ubuntu supports the Header file conio.h?No, the GCC Library in Linux Ubuntu does not contain definitions for conio.h header file.

11. What is the Format specifier or accessing Address using Pointers in Windows and Linux?Address Access Specifier in Windows: %uAddress Access Specifier in Linux: %p

12. Describe Modulus Operator?Modulus Operator is used to fetch the Remainder value on dividing one Integer with another Integer. Modulus operator cannot work with Float values. Eg.: 10%2=0

13. Is an Else Block necessary for a Corresponding if Block?No, an If Block is generally independent of an Else Block. An Else Block is used only when a Conditional Approach is to be used.

14. What is the difference between && and &?&& is a Logical Operator and it is pronounced as AND Operator, whereas & is a Bitwise AND Operator.

15. Enlist Comparison Operator and Assignment Operator.An Assignment Operator is used to assign or set a value to a variable whereas a Comparison Operator is used to check a condition.Assignment Operator: =Comparison Operator: ==

16. Explain Conditional Operator.Conditional Operator is also called as Ternary Operator. The Syntax for a Conditional Operator is: expression 1 ? expression 2 : expression 3Expression 1 includes the Condition. Depending upon its value, if the Condition evaluates to be True, expression 2 will be executed and if the Expression 1 evaluates to be False, expression 3 will be evaluated.

17. What is the difference between Do While Loop and While Loop?A While Loop checks the Condition before executing the following set of statements whereas a Do-While Loop first executes the set of statements once and then checks the condition. In this, statement will be executed at least once even if the Condition evaluates to be False.

18. What is a break keyword used for?The keyword break allows us to transfer the Control to the very first statement that occurs after the current Loop. It therefore takes the Execution Control out of the Loop. A Break is generally used with IF Blocks and Switches.

19. What is the Advantage of a Switch Case Structure over an IF Block?A Switch Case Structure leads to a more structured program and the level of indentation is manageable, more so, if there are multiple statements with each case of a Switch.

20. Enlist Limitations of Switch Case Structure?A Float expression cannot be tested in a Switch Case.A Case can never have Variable expression such as c + 5.It is illegal to use same expressions for multiple cases.

21. What is the significance of a Null Character in String?A Null Character is represented by \0. It is different than 0. Null Character is a terminating Character for an Array of Characters i.e., a String. It is the only way to track the end of a String.

22. What is the difference between function() and function(); ?function() includes the definition of the function whereas function(); is the declaration syntax of a function.

23. What is the role of a return statement?On executing the return statement, it immediately transfers the control back to the Calling function.It returns the value present in the parentheses after return statement to the calling function.

24. Explain Automatic Storage Class.Syntax: auto int a;Storage: MemoryLife: Till the control remains within the block in which the variable is defined.Default Initial Value: Garbage ValueScope: Local to the block in which variable is initialized

25. What is the difference between scanf() and gets() methods?scanf() method cannot accept Multi-Word Strings (that includes a Space character) whereas gets() method can help to accept Multi-Word Strings.

26. Explain Calling Convention in user defined functions?It describes primarily two things:The order in which the arguments are passed to the function.It also mentions which function performs the cleanup of variables when the control returns from the function. The most commonly used convention is Standard Calling Convention.

27. What is Call By Value passing method?In call by value method, parameters are passed to other methods using their values. Eg.: function1(a,b)Here, we are passing values of a and b to the function1.

28. What is a De-Referencing Operator?A De-Referencing Operator is denoted by an Asterisk *. It is used to store the Address of an Identifier in C programming.

30. Explain Register Storage Class.Syntax: register int a;Storage: CPU registersLife: Till the control remains within the block in which the variable is defined.Default Initial Value: Garbage valueScope: Local to the block in which variable is initialized

31. What is the difference between getch() and getche() methods?Both these methods allows the user to read a single character the instant it is typed without waiting for a Enter key to be pressed. However, in getche() method, the character is echoed after it is typed whereas in getch() method, no Echo of character is there.

32. When is it required to use a Static Data type for a variable?A Static storage class should be used only when you want the value of a variable to be persistent between different functions of the same program

33. What is the difference between getchar() and fgetchar() methods?The major difference between the two is that getchar() is a Macro while fgetchar() is a Function.

34. Explain Static Storage Class.Syntax: static int aStorage: MemoryLife: Value persists between different functionsDefault Initial Value: ZeroScope: Local to the block in which variable is initialized

35. When is it required to use an Auto Data type for a variable?This is probably the most common data type used for any variable. The prefix auto is not mandatory. If you don’t have any special need of a variable, automatic storage class is the one that you should opt for.

36. What is pragma directive?This is a special purpose directive that can be used to turn on or off certain features. It can help you to terminate the Warnings or any other errors. There are numerous pragma directives available in C and these are as follows:#pragma startup#pragma exit#pragma warn

37. When is it required to use a Register Data type for a variable?Since there are few CPU registers available in the memory, register storage class should be used only when a variable is being used very often

38. Enlist the Steps in the Building Process of a C Program.A C Program is executed with the following steps:C Source Code FileExpanded Source CodeAssembly CodeLinking Object Code of other LibrariesExecutable Code

39. Enlist the Operations that can be performed on a Pointer.The Operations that can be executed using a Pointer in C are as follows:Addition of a Number to PointerSubtraction of a Number from a PointerSubtraction of one Pointer from anotherComparison of Two pointer variables

41. What is a String?A String is a One Dimensional Array of Characters that is terminated by a Null Character (‘\0’). Eg.: char name[]=”thecrazyprogrammer”;

42. What is a NULL Pointer?A NULL Pointer is a special reserved value of a Pointer. A Null Pointer therefore, points to Nothing. It doesn’t have any Address assigned to it at the time of declaration. Hence, when a Pointer has NULL value, it is not pointing to anywhere. A NULL Pointer is useful when you don’t have any location address to be assigned to the pointer at the time of Declaration.

43. Are 0 and ‘\0’ same? If not, explain.No, 0 and ‘\0’ are different. ASCII Value of ‘\0’ is 0 whereas that of 0 is 48. ‘\0’ is a terminating character normally used in Strings. Its the only way that functions within a string can know where the String ends. ‘\0’ is a single character.

44. What is the difference between char const *p and const char* p ?In char const *p, pointer p is constant. Therefore, it is not possible to make p point to another location. However, you can modify the value of the Character referenced by p.In const char* p, the character referred by p’ is a constant and therefore it is not possible to change the value of p. However, it is possible to make p point to another location.

45. What is the primary difference between a Declaration and a Definition?While declaring a variable, we only specify the Data Type associated to it. There’s no memory allocation at this point. However, when we define a Variable into the system, an initial value is thereby assigned to the variable and there’s memory allocation given to that particular variable.

46. What is ferror() method used for?ferror() method is a Standard Library Function. It signifies errors that occurs during a File Write or Read Operation. It returns 0 if the Read/Write Operation is successful and a Non-Zero value in case of a failure.

47. What is a Void Pointer?A Void Pointer is a specific type of Pointer that points to the address of a data that does may have any specific data type associated with it. A Void pointer is also known as a Generic Pointer. A void pointer is declared like a normal pointer, using the void keyword as the pointer’s type.

48. What is #undef Directive?Sometimes, it is needed to modify a pre-defined name to be undefined for different reasons. This undefining is without deleting that name from the name. This can be established by using a Undef Directive. Suppose, if you want to Undefine a Macro that has been previously defined, you can use the following syntax:#undef macro_name

49. How can we refer to the Base Address of a 1D Array?The following methods would work to access the Base Address of an Array:*num*(num+0)

50. What is modular programming approach?Modular programming is the process of breaking down a program into parts so as to reduce the complexity of a large program. Such parts are nown as Functions. Each function performs a particular task and is generally interconnected to convey data between other functions of the same program.

51. Explain the types of Errors in C Programming.Run Time Errors: These errors are usually caught by the compilers and occur due to illegal operations performed within a program such as Dividing an Integer by Zero, Unavailability of Memory Space and others. These errors terminate the program abruptly.

Compile Time Errors:Compilation Errors are those that occurs at the Compilation Time of a program. These errors are further divided into:

Semantic ErrorsThese errors occur due to undefined operations such as illegal assignment as this x+y=z.

Syntax ErrorsThese errors occur if we don’t follow the guidelines and rules prescribed by that particular language.

Logical ErrorsLogical errors are most difficult to debug as these are not usually caught by the Compiler. These generally occur due to Algorithm and Logic issues within the program.

52. What is recursion?When a Function calls itself again and again, it is called a recursive function. The Function calls itself till a particular condition does not evaluates to False. Recursion can be used to replace complex nesting code by dividing the problem into same problem of its sub-type.

53. What is a Dangling Pointer?A Dangling Pointer occurs during Destruction of an Object when an object that has an incoming reference that is de-allocated or deleted without modifying the value of the Pointer. This is done to make the Pointer still point to the Memory location of the de-allocated memory.

54. What is the difference between char str[]=”Interview” and char *p=”Interview”?Char *p=”Interview”In this case, p acts as a Pointer to a Constant String.Char str[]=”Interview”In this case, str acts as a Constant Pointer to a String.

So this was the list of some important C interview questions and answers. If you found any information incorrect or missing in above list then please mention it by commenting below.